New York Bill Would Ban Live Sports Betting
Measure Comes As Leagues Face Wagering-Related Scandals
New York Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal has proposed a bill that would ban live betting in the state.
Assembly Bill 9343 directs the New York State Gaming Commission to halt all in-play sports wagering in the Empire State. If the measure is approved, sports betting in New York could take a major hit. In January, research firm Optimove analyzed 3.8 million wagers from 2024 and found that 52% involved live, or in-play, betting.
The bill comes in the wake of sports betting scandals involving NBA players and the arrests of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers for allegedly altering pitches to benefit bettors.
Bill Could Impact State Revenue
The legislation would ban micro-betting as well, which has gained popularity with bettors over the last year.
“The commission shall prohibit any casino, mobile sports wagering licensee, or mobile sports wagering operator from accepting in-play sports wagers from sports bettors in this state,” the bill reads.
The Optimove study also found that in-game bettors generally wagered more on average per month than those who routinely make wagers before a game begins.
Rosenthal’s bill could potentially result in a significant reduction in state revenue.
Limiting Betting Options Becoming A Trend
After the recent scandal surfaced, Major League Baseball announced an agreement with partner sportsbooks to place limits on pitching prop bets. The NBA has announced plans to address tanking, increasing the frequency of injury reporting, and restricting the types of bets partner sportsbooks can offer.
Another bill in New York, AO9125, would prohibit sportsbooks from banning or limiting customers after they won. Additionally, AO7962 would set limits on how often bettors can fund their accounts and limit sports betting advertising.
A handful of other states are also considering legislation to limit the types of betting available in their jurisdictions. For example, Ohio has set limits on micro-betting, while New Jersey is considering a complete ban on that type of live sports betting.
https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/1630759-new-york-bill-would-ban-live-sports-betting